Selection Criteria

The Shawsheen Admissions Committee periodically reviews the admissions process. They may
make recommendations to the Shawsheen School Committee through the Superintendent-
Director and the School Improvement Council for approval of any changes including a change in
the designated cut off score for admission for the next school year. Guidance counselors from
the local schools will be notified of any changes in this regard, upon their approval by DOE,
before the admission’s process begins.

The Admissions Committee using weighted admissions criteria processes completed
applications. Each applicant will be assigned a score derived from the sum of the sub scores of
the following criteria:

For applications to grade 9 (Fall admission), the average of the applicant’s final grades from
grade 7, and grades for the first and second quarter in grade 8 in English, social studies,
mathematics, and science from the local school report card/transcript will be used. For
applications to grades 10 or 11 (Fall admission), the average of the previous school year’s final
grades, and terms one and two of the current school year marks in English, social studies,
mathematics, and science from the local school’s report card/transcript will be used.

For applications to grades 9, 10, or 11 (admission during the school year), the current school
year to date of the application marks in English, social studies, mathematics, and science from
the local school report card/transcript will be used as well as the applicant’s final grades in the
previous academic year.

2. Attendance—Maximum 16 points

# Unexcused

Absences Points

0-6

16

7-13

11

14-20

6

21+

0

For applications to grade 9 (Fall admission), The sum of unexcused absences from grade 7 and
terms one and two of grade 8 as delineated on the local school’s report card will be used. For
applications to grades 10 or 11 (Fall admission), the sum of unexcused absences from the
previous school year and terms one and two of the current school year as delineated on the
local school’s report card will be used.
For applications to grades 9, 10, or 11 (admission during the school year), unexcused absences
from the current school year up to the date of application as well as the sum of the previous
year’s unexcused absences as delineated on the local school’s report card will be used.

For applications to grade 9 (Fall Admission), incidents from grade 7 as well as those from terms
one and two of grade 8 as delineated on the local school’s report card or discipline record will be
used. For applications to grade 10 and 11 (Fall admissions), incidents from the previous year as
well as those from terms one and two of the current school year as delineated on the local
school’s report card or discipline record will be used.
For applications to grades 9, 10, or 11 (admission during the school year), incidents occurring
during the current school year as well as those from the previous school year as delineated on
the sending school’s report card or discipline record will be used.

4. Local Guidance Counselor Recommendation---Maximum 10 points

Rating

Points

Excellent

10

Above Average

7

Average

5

Poor

0

5. Interview---Maximum points 24

The Director of Guidance or designee will interview each applicant. Each applicant will be asked
the same questions and rated with a uniform standard. The interview will provide information
regarding the student’s reason for attending Shawsheen and his/her ability to benefit there from,
the student’s choice of program interest, career goals, and his/her interests and motivation.

Rating

Points

Excellent

24

Above Adverage

20

Adverage

16

Below Adverage

12

Poor

0

Point Summary:

Scholastic Achievement

24

Attendance

16

Discipline

26

Recommendation

10

Interview

24

Maximum Points Attainable

100

After points are assigned to each respective criterion, the points are totaled for each applicant.
Using the quotas assigned to each member town, cut off scores are assigned on or before April
1st based on seats available and the distribution of scores attained by applicants. These cut off
scores will vary for each town and are affected by the number of applicants. As the number of
applicants increases, the cut off scores for each respective town generally increases as well.
After a point total for each resident applicant has been determined, applicants are ranked in
accordance with their point total and their town’s quota. Upon filling a town’s quota, students
remaining on the applicant list are assigned to a ranked waiting list in accordance with their
point total. In addition to a candidate’s “rating score”, Shawsheen conditions its
acceptance on applicants having passed courses in English Language Arts or the
equivalent and mathematics for the school year immediately preceding their enrollment
at Shawsheen, and attain a minimum rating score of 60 or above.